The competition season got off to a great start for the senior members of Sidmouth and East Devon fencing club, writes Valerie Morrish.

Angela Findlay represented the South West, fencing foil at the Veteran Winton Cup. The Inter section competition, held over a weekend, saw eight regions fighting it out for overall supremacy over the three fencing weapons: epee, foil and sabre. The South West won the cup for the fourth time.

The following weekend Angela was joined by old club mates Jenny Harwood and Grace Williams at the Bristol Open. Bristol is one of the major UK opens and attracts the top British fencers chasing vital ranking points. All three Sidmouth foilists achieved personal bests, Angela was the highest placed veteran and Grace, who has had a long break from competitive fencing, fenced skilfully and with excellent timing giving her a seeding of ninth after the pools.

After earning a bye for the first direct elimination she confidently won her second DE 15-5. In the next round she beat the eighth seed 15-9 to gain a place in the quarter final. With only eight left in the competition she then met number 1 seed and reigning champion Hannah Bryars. Despite an early lead and some outstanding fencing Grace finally succumbed 7 -15 to Bryars who went on to win the competition. Grace finished in seventh overall: a result to be justly proud of.